Addie E. Citchens' Debut Novel 'Die Abkehr' Explores Patriarchy in Mississippi
Addie E. Citchens' debut novel "Die Abkehr" (The Turning Away) follows two strong female characters, Priscilla and Diamond, as they confront patriarchal structures and toxic masculinity in deeply religious Mississippi. The story centers on Manny, a seemingly perfect son known as "Wonder Boy," who gradually reveals a harmful nature. Citchens, born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, won the inaugural FSG Writer's Fellowship, selected from over a thousand submissions by a jury including Sheila Heti. Her stories have appeared in The New Yorker and The Paris Review. She lives in New Orleans. The novel was published by Suhrkamp Verlag and is recommended as book of the week by Kulturnews.
Key facts
- Addie E. Citchens is the author of 'Die Abkehr'.
- The novel is a debut work.
- It features two strong female protagonists: Priscilla and Diamond.
- The story is set in Mississippi.
- Manny, called 'Wonder Boy', is a central male character.
- Citchens won the FSG Writer's Fellowship as the first author ever.
- The jury included Sheila Heti.
- Citchens' stories have been published in The New Yorker and The Paris Review.
- She lives in New Orleans.
- The book is published by Suhrkamp Verlag.
- It was recommended as book of the week by Kulturnews.
Entities
Artists
- Addie E. Citchens
- Sheila Heti
Institutions
- Suhrkamp Verlag
- FSG Writer's Fellowship
- The New Yorker
- The Paris Review
- Kulturnews
Locations
- Clarksdale
- Mississippi
- New Orleans